Plainview is a city in Wabasha County,

Minnesota Minnesota () is a state in the upper midwestern region of the United States. It is the 12th largest U.S. state in area and the List of U.S. states and territories by population, 22nd most populous, with over 5.75 million residents. Minne ...

, United States. The population was 3,340 at the 2010 census. The author

Jon Hassler Jon Hassler (March 30, 1933 – March 20, 2008) was an American writer and teacher known for his novels about small-town life in Minnesota. He held the positions of Regents professor emeritus and writer-in-residence at St. John's University in ...

was raised in Plainview and some of the places in his writing are based on the town.

History

Plainview was

plat In the United States, a plat ( or ) (plan) is a cadastral map, drawn to scale, showing the divisions of a piece of land. United States General Land Office surveyors drafted township plats of Public Lands Surveys to show the distance and bea ...

ted in 1857. The city was named from its location on a plain at a lofty elevation, where a "plain view" can be had of the surrounding area. A post office has been in operation at Plainview since 1857. Plainview was incorporated in 1875.

Geography

According to the

United States Census Bureau The United States Census Bureau (USCB), officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the U.S. Federal Statistical System, responsible for producing data about the American people and economy An economy is an area of th ...

, the city has a total area of , all of it land. Minnesota Highway 42, Minnesota Highway

247 __NOTOC__ Year 247 ( CCXLVII) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Philippus and Severus (or, less frequently, year 1000 ...

, and County Highway 4 are three of the main routes in the city.

Demographics

2010 census

As of the

census A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring, recording and calculating information about the members of a given population. This term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common censuses in ...

of 2010, there were 3,340 people, 1,278 households, and 868 families living in the city. The

population density Population density (in agriculture: Stock (disambiguation), standing stock or plant density) is a measurement of population per unit land area. It is mostly applied to humans, but sometimes to other living organisms too. It is a key geographical ...

was . There were 1,355 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 94.9%

White White is the lightness, lightest color and is achromatic (having no hue). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully diffuse reflection, reflect and scattering, scatter all the ...

, 0.2%

African American African Americans (also referred to as Black Americans and Afro-Americans) are an Race and ethnicity in the United States, ethnic group consisting of Americans with partial or total ancestry from sub-Saharan Africa. The term "African American ...

, 0.1% Native American, 0.3% Asian, 3.5% from other races, and 1.0% from two or more races.

Hispanic The term ''Hispanic'' ( es, hispano) refers to people, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or Hispanidad. The term commonly applies to countries with a cultural and historical link to Spain and to viceroyalties for ...

or Latino of any race were 7.8% of the population. There were 1,278 households, of which 36.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.1% were

married couples Marriage, also called matrimony or wedlock, is a culturally and often legally recognized union between people called spouses. It establishes rights and obligations between them, as well as between them and their children, and between t ...

living together, 10.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.5% had a male householder with no wife present, and 32.1% were non-families. 26.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 3.13. The median age in the city was 34.8 years. 27.5% of residents were under the age of 18; 7% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 28% were from 25 to 44; 22.4% were from 45 to 64; and 15.2% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.1% male and 51.9% female.

2000 census

As of the

of 2000, there were 3,190 people, 1,157 households, and 824 families living in the city. The population density was . There were 1,223 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 96.83%

, 0.03%

, 0.06% Native American, 0.09% Asian, 2.45% from other races, and 0.53% from two or more races.

or Latino of any race were 5.14% of the population. There were 1,157 households, out of which 39.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.8% were

living together, 9.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.7% were non-families. 24.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.65 and the average family size was 3.16. In the city the population was spread out, with 29.3% under the age of 18, 8.6% from 18 to 24, 28.0% from 25 to 44, 17.9% from 45 to 64, and 16.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.0 males. The median income for a household in the city was $39,952, and the median income for a family was $48,971. Males had a median income of $32,179 versus $22,754 for females. The

per capita income Per capita income (PCI) or total income measures the average income earned per person in a given area (city, region, country, etc.) in a specified year. It is calculated by dividing the area's total income by its total population. Per capita i ...

for the city was $16,494. About 5.5% of families and 6.4% of the population were below the

poverty line The poverty threshold, poverty limit, poverty line or breadline is the minimum level of income deemed adequate in a particular country. The poverty line is usually calculated by estimating the total cost of one year's worth of necessities for ...

, including 4.5% of those under age 18 and 12.4% of those age 65 or over.

Notable residents

* James A. Carley, Minnesota state legislator, Mayor of Plainview, and lawyer *

Robert Rankin Dunlap Robert Rankin Dunlap (July 25, 1915 – February 15, 1992) was an American lawyer and politician. Dunlap was born in Saint Paul, Minnesota and graduated from Saint Paul Central High School. He received his law degree from the University of Minn ...

, Minnesota state senator and lawyer * Slim Dunlap, born in Plainview, noted guitarist for The Replacements and other musical outlets. *

Joseph Ray Watkins Joseph Ray Watkins (August 21, 1840 – December 21, 1911) was an American entrepreneur and founder of Watkins Incorporated with his homemade medical products – liniment, extracts, and salves. He offered the United States's first money back guar ...

, was a citizen and an entrepreneur and founder of

Watkins Incorporated Watkins Incorporated is a manufacturer of health remedies, baking products, and other household items. Founded in 1868, Watkins Incorporated is based in Winona, Minnesota, United States, which utilizes an omni-channel marketing strategy which i ...

References

External links

City of Plainview, MN -- Official sitePlainview MN Chamber of Commerce
{{authority control Cities in Wabasha County, Minnesota Rochester metropolitan area, Minnesota Cities in Minnesota